CANADA: XL Foods gets US clearance after e. coli scare

The site has been allowed to resume exports to the US “effective immediately”, CFIA said on Friday

The facility owned by Canada's XL Foods at the centre of an e. coli scare has been allowed to resume exports to the US.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) said on Friday (7 December) it had been informed by the US Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) the facility had been re-listed. The site has been allowed to resume exports to the US "immediately", the CFIA said.

Canadian officials suspended XL Foods' licence to export to the US in September after being alerted by authorities there to a positive e. coli reading in beef trimmings. Retailers including Wal-Mart Stores, Kroger and Safeway Inc recalled products across 30 US states.

The CFIA then suspended operations at the Alberta meat processing plant completely. The site was allowed to partially re-open in October. That month, Brazilian meat giant JBS's US business assumed control of "certain Canadian operations" of XL Foods, including the Alberta plant.

The facility was allowed to resume full production later in October, although last month officials from the CFIA asked the plant to take minor corrective measures after "observations". These included meat cutting areas not being adequately cleaned and condensation on pipes in the tripe room. The CFIA did say the observations were "to be expected"

On Friday, the CFIA said it will continue to observe activities at the facility "to ensure the company's long-term and preventive measures continue effective implementation".

US breakfast cereal group Post Holdings kicks off a relatively quieter week of results with its half-year numbers on Monday. On Tuesday, meat giants Marfig and JBS will report on how it fared in the f...